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Ten juniors named to the 30th Annual All-American Elite Team headline a group of 75 elite players selected to the 2023-24 Underclass All-American team powered by www.ebooksnet.com.

Power forward Cameron Boozer of Columbus (Miami, Fla.) and dynamic junior wing A.J. Dybansta lead the way among underclass players who stood out among the nation’s best players. In fact, Boozer and Dybansta were two of the four leading voter getters in the final 2023-24 Mr. Basketball USA Tracker with both appearing on all 10 ballots. Boozer finished in third place with 78 points, including two second place votes and six third place votes. Dybansta finished with 55 points (out of 100 possible), including one second place vote and two fourth place votes.

Boozer’s and Dybansta’s production and notoriety shouldn’t come as a surprise, as the son of former 1999 All-American Elite Team member and NBA player Carlos Boozer was the first tenth-grader ever to earn Mr. Basketball USA honors in 2022-23. Boozer has a chance to earn class Player of the Year honors in each of his four high school seasons. Dybansta was the top honoree on a team with three McDonald’s All-American choices after re-classifying up in the off-season. Dybansta was on the freshman All-American honor roll in 2022-23 and is considered one of the best prospects in the world outside the NBA.

While Boozer was the nation’s best player in 2022-23 as a sophomore, there were three other highly-regarded tenth-graders that are repeat honorees on this year’s All-American Elite Team. Cooper Flagg of FAB 50 champ Montverde Academy of Florida re-classed up to the 2024 class and was named this year’s Mr. Basketball USA. Repeat third five selection Koa Peat of Perry (Gilbert, Ariz.) and repeat fourth five selection Meleek Thomas of Lincoln Park (Midland, Pa.) have won five state titles between them with one season to go.

Five more juniors were selected to the 30-man second team. No sophomore made this year’s All-American Elite team, but the 2026 class is developing into a special one. There were 30 standout tenth-graders selected as Underclass All-Americans, led by player of the year Jalen Montonati of Owasso (Okla.), and at least a dozen other worthy players who were deserving to make this year’s underclass honor roll.

Each season, players classifying up in order to speed up the recruiting process or transfer in hopes the move will be more advantageous to their development and this off-season is no different. There will also be some who seek a transfer to put themselves in better position to secure Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) endorsement deals. In most states, it is not illegal or against state association rules to sign an endorsement deal, provided that endorsement is not facilitated with the athlete wearing or promoting garments or items trademarked by the state association or the NCAA.

Already it’s been announced that junior wing Hudson Greer will transfer to defending FAB 50 champion Montverde Academy and sophomore guard Kaden House (along with his highly-regarded brother Kalek House) will transfer from their public high school in Arizona to join AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.), which is part of the same EYBL Scholastic League that Montverde Academy competes in.

Expect more player movement as the travel ball season and summer rolls on.

National Grassroots Editor Ronnie Flores selects this performance-based squad with input from Mr. Basketball USA panelists. It is chosen after the conclusion of the season, which makes the Underclass All-American Team more reflective of players who made state championship runs.

Our national coach of the year is Jim Baker of Central Cabarrus (Concord, N.C.).

Juniors to Watch (2025)

G — Darius Acuff, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) 6-2
F — Kenyon Aguino, Volcano Vista (Albuquerque, N.M.) 6-7
F — Cameron Boozer, Columbus (Miami, Fla.) 6-9
C — DeWayne Brown, Hoover (Ala.) 6-10
G — Brayden Burries, Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.) 6-5
F — A.J. Dybantsa, Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) 6-7
G — Jerry Easter, La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.) 6-5
G — Jeremiah Fears, AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.) 6-3
G — Kingston Flemmings, Brennan (San Antonio, Texas) 6-4
F — Hudson Greer, Lake Travis (Austin, Texas) 6-6
F — D.J. Hall, Plano East (Plano, Texas) 6-7
F — Davion Hannah, Nicolet (Glendale, Wis.) 6-5
G — Jalen Haralson, La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.) 6-7
F — Bryce Heard, Homewood-Flossmoor (Flossmoor, Fla.) 6-5
F — Jamier Jones, Oak Ridge (Orlando, Fla.) 6-6
G — Acaden Lewis, Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.) 6-2
G — Nyk Lewis, Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) 6-0
G — Chance Mallory, St. Anne’s-Bellfield (Charlottesville, Va.) 5-9
G — Trey McKenney, St. Mary’s Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.) 6-3
G — Kayden Mingo, Long Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.) 6-1
C — Malachi Moreno, Great Crossing (Georgetown, Ky.) 7-0
F — Koa Peat, Perry (Gilbert, Ariz.) 6-7
G — Darryn Peterson, Huntington Prep (Huntington, W. Va.) 6-5
C — Xavion Staton, Sierra Vista (Las Vegas, Nev.) 6-11
C — Moustapha Thiam, DME Academy (Daytona Beach, Fla.) 7-1
G — Meleek Thomas, Lincoln Park Performing Arts (Midland, Pa.) 6-3
F — Cameron Ward, Largo (Upper Marlboro, Md.) 6-7
F — Jacob Wilkins, Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) 6-7
F — Caleb Wilson, Holy Innocents (Atlanta, Ga.) 6-9
F — Tounde Yessoufou, St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.) 6-5

2024 National Junior of the Year: Cameron Boozer

Sophomores to Watch (2026)
F — Latrell Almond, John Marshall (Richmond, Va.) 6-8
G — Ikenna Alozie, Dream City Christian (Glendale, Ariz.) 6-3
F — J.J. Andrews, Little Rock Christian Academy (Little Rock, Ark.) 6-5
G — Alijah Arenas, Chatsworth (Calif.) 6-6
F — Cole Cloer, Orange (Hillsborough, N.C.) 6-6
G — Korie Corbett, Ridge View (Columbia, S.C.) 6-4
F — Alexander Costanza, Westminster Christian (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) 6-8
G — Jason Crowe Jr., Lynwood (Calif.) 6-2
C — Moustapha Diop, Walker (Marietta, Ga.) 6-10
C — Sam Funches, Germantown (Madison, Miss.) 6-10
F — Kendre Harrison, Reidsville (N.C.) 6-8
G — Jayden Hodge, St. Rose (Belmar, N.J.) 6-6
G — Cam Holmes, Millennium (Goodyear, Ariz.) 6-5
G — Caleb Holt, Buckhorn (New Market, Ala.) 6-5
G — Kaden House, Desert Mountain (Scottsdale, Ariz.) 6-3
G — Jacob Lanier, Maumelle (Ark.) 6-5
G — Taylen Kinney, Newport (Ky.) 6-0
F — Brannon Martinsen, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) 6-8
G — Brandon McCoy Jr., St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) 6-4
G — Mason Magee, Basha (Chandler, Ariz.) 6-0
F — Jalen Montonati, Owasso (Okla.) 6-7
G — Jayden Moore, Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.) 6-0
G— Dionte Neal, Reidsville (N.C.) 5-9
G — Trent Perry, Lone Star (Frisco, Texas) 6-3
G — Nas Price, Seven Lakes (Katy, Texas) 6-3
F — Dean Rueckert, Timpview (Provo, Utah) 6-6
G — Jordan Smith Jr., Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) 6-4
F — Tyran Stokes, Prolific Prep (Napa. Calif.) 6-7
F — Abdou Toure, Notre Dame (West Haven, Conn.) 6-6
F — Sebastian Wilkins, Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.) 6-8

2024 National Sophomore of the Year: Jalen Montonati

Freshmen to Watch (2027)
G — Javon Bardwell, Desert Mountain (Scottsdale, Ariz.) 6-4
G — Jacob Canton, Rutgers Prep (Somerset, N.J.) 6-2
G — Jaxson Davis, Warren Township (Gurnee, Ill.) 6-1
G — Cayden Daughtry, Calvary Christian (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) 5-11
G — Silas Graham, Haverford School (Haverford, Pa.) 6-4
F — Ahmad Hudson, Ruston (La.) 6-6
F — Dooney Johnson, Juneau (Milwaukee, Wis.) 6-5
G — Tre Keith, Tri-Cities (East Point, Ga.) 6-3
F — Josh Leonard, Wilson (Florence, S.C.) 6-6
F — Jaylan Mitchell, Reitz Memorial (Evansville, Ind.) 6-7
G — Jordan Page, Broughton Magnet (Raleigh, N.C.) 6-5
F — Jeremiah Profit Jr., Temecula Valley (Temecula, Calif.) 6-5
F — Gene Roebuck, La Mirada (Calif.) 6-5
F — Taj Saragba, Woodstock (Ga.) 6-7
G — Davion Thompson, Bolingbrook (Ill.) 6-2

2024 National Freshman of the Year: Jaylan Mitchell

2023-24 Mr. Basketball USA: Cooper Flagg, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 6-9 Sr.

National Coach of the Year: Jim Baker, Central Cabarrus (Concord, N.C.).

Note: ESPN selections 2010-2012; EA SPORTS selections 2003-2009; Student Sports selections prior to 2003; Selections are based on high school accomplishment, not future college/pro potential, and are reflective of those that lead their teams to state championships. The editors of www.ebooksnet.com do not knowingly select fifth-year players, and those ineligible due to age or academics, Mr. Basketball USA or to its various All-American teams.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

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2023-24 Mr. Basketball USA: Cooper Flagg, Montverde Academy (Montve?rde, Fla.) 6-8 F
Flagg was the Gatorade State Player of the Year as a freshman at Nokomis Regional (Newport, Maine) before spending the last two seasons at Montverde Academy. He was one of the best players in the country last season as a sophomore when he came in No. 10 in the final 2022-23 Mr. Basketball USA Tracker and earned second five Elite Team All-American honors. Flagg is one of the best shot-blocking small forwards to come down the pike in many years and his shooting is better than advertised. He shot 54.7 percent from the field and 35.2 percent from 3-point range as a senior and has a vast array of shots from the elbow in.

Flagg is the third consecutive Mr. Basketball USA honoree from Florida and the second in three years from Montverde Academy that is headed to Duke, joining 2022 honoree Dariq Whitehead, who has played two games in the NBA so far. To view the full Mr. Basketball USA release, the Mr. Basketball Tracker voting results, and comments from Flagg's coach, CLICK HERE.

For all-time Mr. Basketball USA honorees dating back to 1954-55, CLICK HERE

2024 National Junior of the Year: Cameron Boozer, Columbus (Miami, Fla.) 6-9 F
When it comes to this year's choice among juniors, it goes to show how expectations work and how each season is slightly different from the previous ones. Boozer, the son of 1999 second five Elite Team All-American Carlos Boozer of Juneau-Douglas (Juneau, Alaska), was only the fourth non-senior national player of the year last season and the first sophomore, but this season did not receive a first place vote in the final Mr. Basketball USA Tracker despite putting up similar numbers to his sophomore campaign. He was one of only four players to appear on all ten ballots after leading Columbus to its third consecutive FHSAA Class 7A state by posting averages of 22.2 ppg while shooting 62 percent from the field (234-378), 41 percent from the 3-point line (43-105) and 82 percent from the free throw line (155-188), 11.4 rpg, 2.7 apg and 2.1 bpg for the No. 2 team in the FAB 50. He also averaged 24.5 ppg in two losses against FAB 50 No. 1 Montverde Academy of Florida. Boozer has been the class player of the year in each of his three seasons of high school and has a chance to be the first three time first five All-American since LeBron James in 2001. He's the first honoree in the junior class from Florida since Jalen Duren of Montverde Academy in 2021. Duren subsequently re-classified after that season to enroll at Memphis.

For all-time Junior Player of the Year honorees dating back to 1954-55, CLICK HERE

2024 National Sophomore of the Year: Jalen Montonati, Owasso (Okla.) 6-7 F

Last season it was easy to peg in Cameron Boozer as the chose among tenth-graders after earning national player of the year honors, but this year the race was closer among a strong group of candidates. Guards Brandon McCoy of St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) and Caleb Holt of Buckhorn (New Market, Ala.) both did enough to deserve this honor, but the choice is Montonati, one of the most honor-laden talents so far in what is shaping out to be a terrific class. McCoy and Holt helped their team win state titles below the top division, but it was Montonati who helped his team win an Oklahoma state crown in the top division (Class 6A) by scoring 34 points in a 57-53 overtime victory over Edmond North.

For the season, the talented forward averaged 23.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 2.0 apg for a 26-4 team that finished No. 7 in the Southwest Regional Top 20 rankings. His all-around skill level is terrific at his size and despite being the focus of defenses, Montonati shot 54 percent from the field and 44 percent from the 3-point line. Montonati was also honored on the prestigious Oklahoman's Super 5 and was named Gatorade State Player of the Year, the first ever sophomore choice from Oklahoma. He also won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2023 FIBA 16U AmeriCup and hopes to be part of another gold-medal wining team this summer at the 2024 FIBA World Cup in Turkey. Montonati is the first ever player from Oklahoma chosen in this class.

For all-time Sophomore Player of the Year honorees dating back to 1967-68, CLICK HERE

2024 National Freshman of the Year: Jaylan Mitchell, Reitz (Evansville, Ind.) 6-8 SF
The ninth-grade national class is showing great promise and its pecking order is still being established, but there are already a handful who've made a big impact on quality teams. In terms of combining best all-around talent with production, Reitz is our choice. The 15-year old helped make Reitz a competitive team in the Southern Indiana Athletic Conference (SIAC) by averaging 15.6 ppg, 8.2 rpg. 3.9 apg, 2.2 spg. He earned All-SIAC first team honors and is already considered one of the best players nationally in the class. The 15-year old stood out at the recent USA Basketball Mini-Camp, as he displayed a nice shooting touch with the ability to score in a variety of ways. In addition to his obvious physical talents, Mitchell makes the right reads and excels on the defensive end. He's the third ever freshman choice from the Hoosier State, joining North Central's Eron Gordon in 2013 and Indiana legend Damon Bailey from North Lawrence, who was already nationally known as a ninth-grader in 1987.

For all-time Freshman Player of the Year honorees dating back to 1967-68, CLICK HERE

2024 National Coach of the Year: Jim Baker, Central Cabarrus (Concord, N.C.).
The Vikings own the nation's longest winning streak at 65 games and the architect of the program is its veteran coach with 36 years of college coaching experience. Baker was a D1 assistant for 12 years and the head coach at Catawba College for 20 years. For the last seven seasons, he's been the head coach at Central Cabarrus and the program has qualified for the state playoffs the past five seasons. For the past three seasons the Vikings have been dynamite, winning three consecutive South Piedmont Conference Tournament titles and losing only one game.

With its 90-62 victory over 71st of Fayetteville, the Vikings captured their second consecutive North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) Class 3A title, as D.J. Kent was named the game’s most valuable player with 20 points, nine rebounds, five steals, two assists and two blocks. With the victory, Central Cabarrus finished 33-0 and No. 12 in the FAB 50 National Team Rankings. The Vikings went 32-0 in 2022-23, finished No. 7 in the FAB 50 and have now won 95 of their last 96 games heading into the 2024-25 season under Baker's leadership.

Baker's teams are known for their terrific defensive concepts and fast-paced offense. In this year's state title game victory over 71st, Central Cabarrus scored 24 points off 24 turnovers and were credited with 15 steals. In his first season at the high school level in 2017-18, Central Cabarrus went 4-21, but the program got better each season to the point it reached a national level of success the past two years.

Baker is the first honoree from a NCHSAA program and the second ever from North Carolina, joining legendary Greensboro Day mentor Freddy Johnson, who was honored in 2016-17 and has nearly 1,200 coaching victories at the high school level.

For all-time National Coach of the Year honorees dating back to 1969-70, CLICK HERE

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores???

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